Final 1 Lats “parity” coin minted

Egils Kaljo | 

As Latvia’s transition to the Euro approaches, the final circulation 1 Lats coin has been minted, and the theme is ‘parity’. The reverse indicates that the coin has a value of 1 Lat, or, by the official exchange rate, 1.42 Euro.

The artists for the coin are Ilmārs Blumbergs (graphic design) and Jānis Strupulis (plaster model). The coin has a mintage of 500,000, and was minted at Münze Österreich (Austria).

Overall, there have been 24 different 1 Lats coins minted, the standard 1 Lats coin featuring a salmon (first minted in 1992), and 23 ‘special’ Lats, featuring varied designs – including storks, ants, mushrooms, toads, and many other images from Latvian folklore.

Bank of Latvia website: http://www.bank.lv

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Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

New CD a showcase of music from southern Kurzeme

Egils Kaljo | 

The new folk music CD, Sventava, features Māris Muktupāvels, kokle player and member of the post-folk ensemble Iļgi, along with many friends, performing songs from the Kurzeme region of Latvia. The album, released by MGM Projekti (MGM 001), brings together a wide variety of Latvian musicians to perform these songs.

According to the liner notes, many of these songs are sung by Latvians in the village of Sventāja, which is actually in Lithuania (between Liepāja in Latvia and Klaipėda in Lithuania). The songs were compiled during a folklore ‘expedition’ to the village by Ilmārs Mežs in the 1980s, and these are new arrangements by Muktupāvels.

Joining Muktupāvels are other Iļģi members like Gatis Gaujenieks, Ilga Reizniece, Egons Kronbergs, as well as other well-known musicians such as Ainars Mielavs, Uģis Prauliņš, and Valdis Muktupāvels.

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Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

Garezers to celebrate its 50th anniversary in July, 2015

Mara Kore | 

Garezers 50 weekend will be a 4-day celebration, including a variety of musical performances featuring talent from North America and Latvia, a feature film, athletic events, fireworks show, cooking competition and other entertainment. The Latvian Center’s history will be commemorated with a formal church service. “What is Garezers? … I am Garezers!” is the theme of the anniversary. The Celebration and associated fundraising campaign will help to secure the future growth and development of the Center.

Celebration Committee Chair Franz Bauer of Cleveland, OH said, “Everyone is invited to be a part of this huge milestone for what now has become a global community of people who love Garezers. The 50th Anniversary is going to be an event that everyone, no matter what their age, will enjoy.”

The Latvian Center Garezers is the largest gathering place for the Latvian community outside of Latvia, as well as the largest summer tourist destination in the Three Rivers, MI area. Its mission is to provide a meeting place for Latvians of all ages, to raise and educate Latvian youth, to strengthen the Latvian language, culture and spiritual values, to promote the Latvian heritage and develop links with Latvia.

Garezers, formerly Camp Lone Tree, was purchased by the Latvian community from a Chicago Girl Scout troupe in 1965. During the ensuing 48 years, hundreds of volunteers have helped to maintain the beautiful landscape of more than 250 acres, including rustic buildings, lakefront and woods, and to develop the programs and infrastructure that now draw several hundred campers and over one thousand visitors each summer.

The Center will be organizing several fundraising events leading up to the Celebration. In order to ensure the success of the event, Garezers will seek sponsors, donors and volunteers. There will be opportunities for advertising, as well as for service providers, as the Center prepares for the many guests who will attend the festivities. Garezers is currently accepting entries for the Celebration’s logo design.

More information about the 50th Anniversary Celebration can be found on the Garezers website http://www.garezers.org, by joining the Garezers Facebook page, or by contacting Celebration Committee Chair Franz Bauer –  garezers50@garezers.org.

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